Dispensing equipment for compressed gas



Oct. 16,1934? P. S. ENDACOTT I File d May 8, 1933 DISPENSING EQUIPMENT FOR COMPRESSED GAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR.

BYMIW ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1934. R 5 EN DACQTT 1,977,268

DISPENSING EQUIPMENT FOR COMPRESSED GAS Filed May 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .96 44' FIG. 4. a

J 43 4/ K49 -36 Y 40 6 ll 60 .45 42 l 22 18 FIG 3.

INVENTOR.

E1111 5. Endalzufi BY 49/ Z M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 DISPENSING EQUIPMENT FOR COMPRESSED GAS Paul S. Endacott, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, Okla, a corporation of- Delaware .Bartlesville,

Application May 8, 1933, Serial No. 670,047 1 8 Claims. (Q1. 221 73.5)

The present invention relates to dispensing equipment for compressed gas, such as propane, which is frequently transported and stored in compressed liquefied condition and made suitable for use in domestic gas appliances by a reduction in pressure from say a vapor pressure of 120 pounds per square inch to less than one pound per square inch at which it is in a gaseous phase.

Heretofore, in the vending of liquefied gas for 10 domestic purposes, very little if anything has been left for the consumer to do other than exercise the ordinary care incident to use of household appliances of the type using natural or manufactured gas of the character delivered to the consumer thru city gas mains.

It has been the practice toservice customers with liquefied gas for domestic and analogous purposes according to what is generally known as the one-drum? and the .two-drum systems. v According to the system using one-drum, the consumer has on his premises a drum, hereinafter called a tank, for storage of liquefied gas and other equipment for the utilization of the gas. The consumers equipment is generally serviced by the vendor transporting'and introducing into the tank a' supply of the liquefied gas. In order to make reasonably sure that the consumer will have at all times a ready supply of the liquefied gas in storage, without attention on the part of the consumer to the equipment, trips are made periodically by truck to the consumers equipment. By including a number of consumers on a route, the service man may with more or less regularity, say every month, attend to the requirements of the consumers without the necessity of any attention whatsoever on the part of the consumer to the equipment. By a weighing operation the service man determines, first, the quantity of liquefied gas consumed and for which the consumer is generally billed, and, second, the

quantity he has introduced into the tank to replenish the supply in storage. This systemhas many advantages mainly among which is the low investment in tanks, since only one tank is provided as a part of the consumers equipment and it remains on the consumers premises indefinite-.- ly. This is in contradistinction to the twodrum system,-where at least two tanks of like dimensions or capacity form a part of the consumers equ pment, altho gas is generally being drawn from but one of the tanks at a time. The two-drum system involves a servicing operation on the part of the consumer as well as the vendor. The consumer, when he has utilized all of the liquefied gas in one tank, goes to the equipment and, by the manipulation of valves brings into use the second charged tank. He then notifies the vendor as by mail or telephone, to come for the empty tank and replace it with a filled-tank. The service man is thus requiredto either make a special trip to'tlie customer's equipment or include it as a stop if traveling a route in order to transport, and substitute a charged tank for that which has been emptied the consumers at the establishments of the latter and are necessarily restricted to relatively small geographical areas which have high concentration of population beyond the gas mains, for it is unprofitable'for the vendor, or too expensive for the purchaser if servicing trucks must travel a considerable distance from the vendors service station or depot.

The present invention is particularly well adapted for, but not necessarily limited to use where the consumer operates the liquefied gas storage and utilization equipment on his premises and looks after the transportation of the empty or partly empty tank to a supply depot or station, and a filled tank from such depot or station to his equipment. In doing so, the consumer may use any suitable vehicle for transportation of the tank and its contents. For instance, the family automobile may be used and since, in outlying rural sections, trips are frequently made to the more populated sections where there are various supply establishments, this transaction may take place while onother errands. Thus, liquefied gas may be made available to those located in sections where the cost of servicing of the consumers equipment according to .the one-drum and two-drum systems above referred to would be prohibitive.

The principal object of the present'invention is to provide, as a part of consumers equipment for the use of liquefied gas, a tank preferably having chambers for a major and minor supply of such gas; and-means that is simple, safe and reliable in its operation, whereby the consumer may condition the equipment for delivery of the gas from either the major or the minor, or both supplies, to the appliances where it is burned, and to cut oil the supply either before or as the tank is removed so as to be returned to the supply station or depot as a part of the transaction in replenishing the supply.

Another object is to provide means to seal the outlet of the tank against outfiow of gas at all times that the tank is not connected to the consumers equipment. This eliminates the requests on the part of consumers for gas allowance,- based on claims that leakage has occurred thru a partly open valve prior to the time of connection to the consumers equipment; and prevents hazardous situations originating from the accidental or intentional opening of a hand operated valve or valves at a time when the tank is not connected to the consumer's equipment.

Another object is to provide a. readily detachable connection to two supplies of liquefied gas (main and reserve) instead of two such connections where separate tanks are used.

Since the operation of the consumers equipment and the handling of the tanks may be placed in the hands of the consumer, it is another object of the invention to embody in the equipment as many safety features as practical limitations will permit. The preferred construction of the tank and its control means embodies no loose or readily removable parts and such removes the possibility of tinkering or tampering on the part of certain types of users to a very great degree.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the tanks are filled thru the same port that serves as an outlet for the gas or vapor and in this port is provided an outwardly closing, inwardly opening check valve.

It is another object of the invention .to provide means to facilitate opening of this valve when passage of gas or vapor thru the port is desired and which means will restrict inlet fiow of liquefied gas, as little as possible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in central vertical section showing a tank and control means therefor, constructed according to the present invention.

..Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in plan of the upper portion of the tank.

Figure 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale, some of the parts being shown in horizontal section to disclose details.

Figure 4 is a detail view mainly in central vertical section thru the control assembly.

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating a fragment of the control assembly and a conduit coupling associated therewith. v

The present invention is particularly well adapted for use with consumers equipment disclosed in co-pending applications for patents of Paul S. Endacott, filed May 8, 1933, Serial Num-- from chamber B and for the introduction of liquefied gas thereinto; F means'providing a port G for a similar purpose in connection with chamber C;' H a control valve for port E; J a control valve for port G; K means providing a port L between the outlet sides of valves H and J M safety valves associated with ports E and G; N a check or leakage prevention valve at the outlet side of valve H; O a removable cap for the outlet end of valve N; P a protecting ring or collar about valves H, J, M and N, and associated parts; Q a guard plate associated with the ring or collar P; R an indicator, such as a frangible seal associated with valve J; and S a service line conduit coupling associated with valve N.

It is preferred to construct the tank A of parts welded, or otherwise secured together, and in the example shown, the tank comprises a cylindrical wall portion 6, having a dome-shaped top wall 7 and a bottom wall 8 providing the large or major chamber B; and a relatively shorter cylindrical wall portion 9 having a dome-shaped top wall 10,

the wall 9 being welded or otherwise secured as at 11 to the upper portion of walls 6 and 7, providing, together with wall 7, the small reserve or minor chamber C. If desired, a foot ring 12 may be provided on the lower portion of wall 8 upon which the tank may rest.

Means D may be in the form of a pipe which providesthe port E, being welded as at 13 to the top wall 7, extending thru chamber C and secured to a boss 14 at the crown portion of wall 10. Means F, providing the port G may be in the form of a boss 15 extending upwardly from wall 10 to one side of boss 14. The characteristics of this tank and the arrangement providing the ports is made the subject matter of a copending application of Paul S. Endacott entitled Liquefied gas tanks, filed May 8, 1933, Serial No. 670,046.

The valves H, J, M and N together with means K constitute a preferred control assembly, pref-v erably carried by the upper end portion of the tank, for controlling the exit of vapors from chambers B and C.

Valve H includes a valve body 16 providing an externally screw threaded extension 17 thru which an inlet port 18 extends, an internally screw threaded extension 19 thru which outlet port 19' extends, an externally screw threaded nipple 20 having a port 21 communicating with outlet port 19', a bonnet extension 22 providing a valve chamber 23, and a valve seat 24 between inlet and .outlet ports 18 and 19', a valve proper 25 in the form of a disc for seating engagement with valve seat 24, and actuating mechanism 26 for "reciprocating the valve 25, this mechanism including an operating handle or wheel 27. The details of the operating mechanism 26 form no part of the present invention, a typical example of such mechanism being shown in Patent No. 1,662,291, granted March 13, 1928 on the invention C. L. Bastian.

' Valve J preferably comprises a valve body 28 providing an externally screw threaded extension 29 thru which an inlet port 30 and a bleeder port 31 extend, an externally screw threaded nipple 32 thru which an outlet port 33 extends, a plug valve extension 35 providing a valve chamber 36 from which a port 37 leads to the atmosphere, a valve seat 38 between ports 31 and 37, a bonnet extension 39 providing a valve chamber 40 to which port 33 opens, and a valve seat 41 between inlet and outlet ports 30 and 33; a plug valve 42 in extension 35 for seating engagement with seat 38; a'valve proper 43 in the form of a disc for seating engagement with seat 41; and, actuating mechanism 44 for reciprocating the valve 43, this mechanism 44 including an operating handle or wheel'45, and may be any suitable operating mechanism such as is disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,662,291.

Means K may comprise a tube 46, the ends of which are secured to nipples 20 and 32 by compression unions 47 so that the port or way L communicates with the outlet ports 19 and 33 of the valves H and J respectively. It is to be understood that means K is merely by way of example, for there are many ways in which to place the outlet ports of these valves in communication with one another.

The safety valves M may be of any suitable'type. In the example shown, they comprise a body portion 49 provided with a screw threaded socket 50, inlet port 51, outlet ports 52 and a valve seat 53 between ports 51 and 52; and a spring actuated disc valve 54 normally engaging seat 53. While the safety valves M are intended to release vapor from the chambers B and C, in the event that the pressure becomes excessive and hence are intended for communication with the ports E and G, they may be supported by the valves H and J, which may be provided with externally screw threaded nipples 55, having ports 56 communicating with inlet port 18 of valve H and inlet port 30 of valve J. The extension 17 of valve H is received by boss 14. and the extension 29 of valve J by boss 15. A dip tube 58 has communication with port 31 of valve J, the lower end 59 of the tube being at approximately the level in chamber C to which it is desired to fill the reserve chamber with liquefied gas. The plug valve 42 may be provided with a socket 60 to receive a suitable wrench, not shown in the drawings, by which the valve may be moved to an open position, to permit the escape of vapor or liquid from chamber C and thus enable the person charging the tank to place the maximum quantity of liquefied gas in chamber C, consistent" with safety for if an excessive amount is introduced in the chamber, it may be permitted to flow off thru the dip tube 59, and ports 31 and 37.

Referring now to the outwardly closing, inwardly opening check or leakage prevention valve N, it preferably comprises a valve body 62 having screw threaded engagement with extension 19 of valve H, this valve body 62 providing an inlet port 63 communicating with outlet port 19', an outet port 64, for communication with the conduit coupling S, a compression nozzle seat 65 in port 64, anda valve seat 66 between ports 63 and 64;.

a valve proper 67 for seating engagement with seat 66, a spring 68 for normally closing valve 67 against at least atmospheric pressure, and means 69 for unseating valve 67 as by the engagement of an element of conduit coupling S such as a compression nozzle 70 thereof shown in Figinwardly to an open position by the engagement of fingers 72 with the lower portion of nozzle '70.

. This means to open the leakage prevention valve into.

valve H or J may be open, except when the tank is actually connected to the customer's utilization equipment. By its use, the possibility'of hazardous situation being created, is greatly reduced. The body 62 may be held in firm engagement with the valveH, by a set screw '75 engaging the outer portion of body 62, this set screw being carried by a projection "76 on bonnet extension 22, as shown in Figure 4.

The portable tank A, the manually operable valve H or J and the check or leakage prevention valve N form a permanent combination, that is, they are put together to stay and to form a unitary structure-one that is not intended to be taken apart except for say-replacement of worn or broken parts. The valve N does not remain as a part of the consumer's equipment at the prem-- ises where the gas is consumed, while the tank is being taken to and from the service station, but forms a part of the permanent combination of which the tank and hand operated valve are 'a part. When the supply of liquefied petroleum gas in the-tank is depleted, the valve N prevents air at atmosphere pressure from entering the tank chamber. This is of much importance since any air in the tank must be removed by the attendant who refills the tank. Otherwise, since the air is relatively incompressible any air in the tank tends to build up an excessive internal pressure as liquefied petroleum gas is introduced therethe consumer's equipment without first closing the manually operable valves H and J. The tanks are frequently permitted to stand empty in storage for qu'te some time with the valve H or J or both open. During these times the valve N keeps air from entering the tank so that it is in readiness to be refilled without the procedure of first driving out air.

The cap 0 is preferably in the form of a cup which, in an inverted position, may be placed over valve body 62. It is preferred to connect the cap to the control assembly by a spring 7'7 having one end portion attached to a flange 78 of the cap, as at 79, and the other end portion to a lug 80, as at 81. This cap is to prevent the entrance of dust,- dirt and moisture, especially while the tank is being transported on the running'board or other portion'of an automobile, or

while in storage. When connected to the utilization equipment, cap 0 is removed and placed to one side, as shown in Figure3.

The protecting ring P is preferably oval in shape and surrounds the control assembly, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. It may be welded or otherwise secured to the top Wall 10. At its The tanks are frequently detached from lower portion it is provided with drainage openings 83. It prevents damage to the control assembly by unusual blows and yet permits proper ventilation. Accumulated gas pockets are prevented and the possibility of water freezing, about the valves and parts is avoided.

The guard plate Q preferably comprises a-horizontal portion 85 provided with perforations 86,

87 and 88 for the accommodation of valve bodies 28 and 62, and the projection 76; and a downwardly extending portion 89 provided with a perforation 90 to accommodate the stem of handle 27. This guard plate may be secured to ring P v by upturned lugs 91 on the horizontal portion 85,

cerned, are protected. Among the functions of the guard plate are, to discourage investigation of the valve assembly details by a curious user, to prevent tampering by unauthorized persons; to provide a more trim appearance at the valve assembly locations; to cause less confusionon the part of'the consumer in using the main and reserve valves H and J ,and to provide a convenient surface for indicia, such as instructions for the use of the equipment.

The indicator R is preferably in the form of a wire 93 passingthru an opening 94 in a lug 95 formed as a part of valve body 28, and also passing thru a perforation 96 in operating handle 45, the ends of the wire being embedded in a seal 97. This indicator is placed to show a closed condition of the valve. Therefore, in order to utilize the reserve supply of liquefied gas in chamber C, it is necessary to break the seal and this of course gives indication to anyone making investigation that the reserve valve has been opened.

The service line conduit S includes, in addition to the compression nozzle which is on a stem 98, having a port 99 leading to the utilization equipment, a nut 100 received by the internally screw threaded portion of body 62 of valve N, this nut engaging a shoulder 101 about the compression nozzle 70. A suitable wrench 102 is provided for rotating nut 100.

In practice it is preferred to place the valves H and J so that the operating'handle 27 of the former is operable in a vertical plane, for opening and closing the valve, while the operating handle 45 is movable in a horizontal plane, for opening and closing of the reserve valve. Thus, the operator will at once observe the indicator or frangible seal R upon connecting the tank to the utilization equipment and will be informed that the first procedure is to open the valve K, by reaching down into the cavity provided by ring P. When it is necessary to draw upon the reserve supply, then handle 45 is operated, but it is first recessary to break the seal. This indicates to any uniformed member of the household, the status of the reserve supply,a broken seal means that it is time to obtain a new charged tank for the equipment at the earliest opportunity.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of invention illustrated in the drawings and preferred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is most efficient and practical; yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the equipment will necessarily vary, it is desired to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is'claimed is:

1. In dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination ofa tank providing a major chamber and a minor chamber-for liquefied gas, manually operable valves carried by the tank for independently controlling the exit of posed elongated tank for liquefied gas, providing a major chamber and a minor chamber for liquefied gas, a manually operable valve carried by the upper end of the tank for controlling the exit of vapor from said major chamber, said valve including an operating handle, and a manually operable valve carried by the upper end of the tank for controlling the exit of vapor from said minor chamber, said valve including an operating handle, said valves disposed with their handles in different operating planes.

3. In dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination of a vertically disposed elongated tank forv liquefied gas, providing a major chamber and a minor chamber for liquefied gas, a manually operable valve carried by the upper end of the tank for controlling the exit of vapor from said major chamber, said valve including an operating handle, and a manually operable valve carried by the upper end of the tank for controlling the exit of vapor from said minor chamber, said valve including an operating handle, said valves disposed with the handle of one operable in a horizontal plane and the other operable in a. vertical plane.

4. In a dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination of an elongated tank ber for liquefied gas; a control assembly carried by said tank at one end thereof, including manually operable valves for controlling the exit of each of said chambers, means providing a port afi'ording communication between the outlets of said valves, and a check valve in operative communication with said port whereby vapors finding exit thru said manually operable valves are normally checked by said check valve; and a protection collar carried by said tank at said ends, about said control assembly.

5. In dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination of an elongated tank providing a major chamber and a minor chamber for liquefied gas; a control assembly carried by said tank at one end thereof, including manually operable valves for controlling the exit of each of said chambers, said valves provided with operating handles, and pressure relief valves for said chambers carried by the tank at said ends thereof; and a guard means carried by the tank at said end about said control assembly, exposing the operating handles of the valves for operation.

6. In dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination of a service line conduit coupling, a tank providing a major chamber and a minor chamber for liquefied gas, valves carried by the tank controlling the exit of each of said chambers to said service line conduit providing a major chamber and a minor chamcoupling, and an indicator associated with the 7. In dispensing equipment of the character 1 described, the combination of an elongated tank providing a major chamber and a minor chamber for liquefied gas; and, a control assembly carried by said tank at one end thereof, including manually operable valves for controlling the exit of each of said chambers, means providing a port affording communication between the outlets of said valves, anda check valve in operative communication with said port whereby vapors finding exit. thru said manually operable valves are normally checked by said check valve. I

8. In dispensing equipment for high pressure, inflammable, liquefied gas, such as propane, the permanent combination of a portable high presssure resistant tank for storage and transportation V of liquefied gas, a manually operable valve rigidly carried by the tank having an inlet port in communication with the interior of the tank and an outlet port, and an inwardly opening check valve seated against atmospheric pressure, next adjacent to and rigidly carried by said manually, oper- PAUL S. ENDACO'I'T. 

